Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Atkins Meal bars ultra-processed?

Bars Sold in the United States

Pack of Atkins Meal bars

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 73 ingredients
  • 18 additives

Less processed bars

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Chocolate coating (polydextrose, palm kernel, palm oil, whey protein isolate, cocoa powder, soy lecithin, artificial flavor, sucralose, acesulfame potassium), peanut butter flavored layer (maltitol, palm kernel, palm oil, peanut butter, peanut flour, nonfat dry milk, whey powder, peanuts, salt, soy lecithin, anhydrous milk fat, cocoa powder), glycerin, protein blend (soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, sodium caseinate), peanuts, hydrolyzed gelatin, water, polydextrose, peanut butter (ground, roasted peanuts), cellulose, natural and artificial flavors, palm kernel oil, olive oil, clarified butter, soy lecithin, guar gum, vitamin mineral mix (dicalcium phosphate, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), sodium ascorbate, vitamin e acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), vitamin a palmitate, folic acid, biotin, chromium amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, phylloquinone (vitamin k1), cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12)), salt, maltodextrin, citric acid, sucralose, mono- and diglycerides, dipotassium phosphate

Additives: E1200 Polydextrose , E300 Ascorbic acid , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E340 Potassium phosphates , E340ii Dipotassium phosphate , E341 Calcium phosphates , E341ii Dicalcium phosphate , E412 Guar gum , E422 Glycerol , E428 Gelatine , E460 Cellulose , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E530 Magnesium oxide , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E428 Gelatine.

As written on the pack

Chocolate flavored coating [polydextrose, palm kernel and palm oil, whey protein isolate, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), soy lecithin, artificial flavor, sucralose, acesulfame potassium], peanut butter flavored layer [maltitol, palm kernel and palm oil, peanut butter, partially defatted peanut flour, nonfat dry milk, whey powder, peanuts, salt, soy lecithin, anhydrous milk fat, cocoa powder (processed with alkali)], glycerin, protein blend (soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, sodium caseinate), peanuts, hydrolyzed gelatin, water, polydextrose, peanut butter (ground, roasted peanuts), cellulose, natural and artificial flavors, palm kernel oil, olive oil, clarified butter, soy lecithin, guar gum, vitamin mineral mix [dicalcium phosphate, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), sodium ascorbate, vitamin e acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), vitamin a palmitate, folic acid, biotin, chromium amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, phylloquinone (vitamin k1), cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12)], salt, maltodextrin, citric acid, sucralose, mono and diglycerides, dipotassium phosphate.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E428 Gelatine Gelatine is a gelling agent made from collagen in animal skin and bones.
  • E460 Cellulose A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
Show 4 more
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
  • Cocoa powder An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
4 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 1,328 bars

From least to most processed, this one ranks 1295th. 89% of the bars here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 1,328 bars, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0637480025027, last edited 14 April 2025), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.